Scotland’s first minister says country willing to take Gaza refugees

Scotland’s First Minister Humza Yousaf said the U.K. country is willing to take Gaza refugees amid the war between Hamas and Israel.

Yousaf noted in a recent speech that his wife, Nadia El-Nakla, is Scottish Palestinian and has family living in Gaza.

“So, many of them don’t want to leave and neither they should have to leave but for the million that have been displaced just in this current conflict, for those that want to leave, there should be a worldwide refugee scheme,” Yousaf said in a video posted to X. “Because of the numbers, the world should be involved.”

Yousaf called upon countries in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, the United Kingdom and America to their doors to refugees from Gaza.

“Let’s say that Scotland will be a place of sanctuary for them as we have shown that kindness and compassion for others. Let us show it once again and this time for the people of Gaza,” Yousaf said.

Scotland is willing to lead the way for the rest of the U.K., Yousaf noted.

“And Scotland is willing to be the first country in the U.K. to take those refugees,” he said.

In a separate video, Yousaf said Scotland’s hospitals will care for people in Gaza who have been injured in the war. The first minister said he is calling on the U.K. government to “begin work on the creation of a refugee resettlement scheme for those in Gaza who want to, and of course are able to, leave.”

He also urged the U.K. government to support the medical evacuation of injured civilians in Gaza.

Jordan and Egypt have said they are unwilling to accept Palestinian refugees amid the war. In the U.S., former President Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) have both said the U.S. should not accept refugees from Gaza. DeSantis said not all Gaza residents are Hamas members, but they “are all antisemitic.” Trump vowed to implement ideological screening for those wishing to enter the U.S. if he is reelected.  

According to a recent poll, most Americans said they want the U.S. to help civilians in Gaza get out of harm’s way.

Several Democratic lawmakers have called on President Biden to urge Israel to protect Gaza civilians after hundreds were killed in an explosion in a Gaza hospital.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told CNN that she thinks the region’s partners should help Palestinian refugees but that the U.S. should acknowledge its “historic role” in accepting refugees.

Similarly, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) told the New York Post that the United States “should be prepared to welcome refugees from Palestine,” while making sure none of them are members of Hamas.

Biden arrived in Tel Aviv to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and show support for Israel amid rising international tensions. Biden announced Wednesday a $100 million humanitarian aid package for the civilians in Gaza, backed by Israel.